I'm learning that beauty is everywhere, It took long enough, I'm in my '60s now. I'm noticing more and enjoying life like I never did when I was younger.
This is a truly lovely piece. It's a left-brain view wanting to see, figure out, understand the experiential depth possible when we stop the language-oriented, defining brain and just go direct, via the right brain into full immersion! Stay in the experience of being a moment longer, then another moment longer, and so on, and infinite layers of the "divine" or the energy-and-consciousness reality are revealed. In a way so natural that all you can say is: "Oh, right! I already know this! It feels so familiar. How did I ever forget or veil myself from this love, this beauty, this belonging?" It's a challenge for me, when I go into these communion experiences, to stay there—because I always want to come back and write about it, try to share it! But I am getting better at merging the 2 worlds, feeling them existing simultaneously in each moment I isolate.
Jeff, I have now read this article 3 times, and I have to thank you for it. It has re-awakened something in me that I had temporarily misplaced under a growing pile of small but wearing challenges-- a sense of wonder and awe that we are privileged to participate in this thing called life. Non-stop stimulation and the persistent division and negativity that popular media seems to feed on can blunt both our senses and our hearts. It is easy to feel like a zombie, not really dead, but neither really alive. As a person of faith, I know not to lean only on what I feel, but your words definitely stirred some hot coals that had become covered with the ashes of past regrets, failures, and disappointments.
Some of your passages really made me smile: "If you pay close enough attention to anything, you start to see everything. Trained eyes recognize a shimmering quality to all of reality. " I think I hadn't allowed myself to stop and notice that "shimmering" of late, so this is a reminder that I need to stop and LOOK for it. Thanks for reminding me that if we all just look for them, we can join you in saying "...I watch angels descending as dust particles and am sure I must be glancing eternity."
Thank you, Jeff, for this keeper. This was not beautifully written, but energizing for those of us who have allowed reality to make us too drowsy to notice the beauty and glimpses of eternity all around us.
This is written like an angel would do if an angel could write -- it's gorgeous and insightful. I have had moments like that. I acknowledge it, though my heart wants to deny it. I want to ask you, though, because I was struck by your example of hair falling on a pink pillow next to you. Isn't it easier to believe that all this oneness is real when you have something like that there, palpably, every day to remind you?
It’s part of a Sabbath prayer usually attributed to Jewish Reform rabbi Chaim Stern. I’ve always loved those lines…a beautiful reminder to NOT remain sightless.
Thank you. That means a lot. There are a number of fun phrases here that came to mind while I was writing this piece. That one, in particular, just popped in when I was revising an earlier draft. It's always rewarding for me when others find bits in my writing that connect.
Love this: "And here, between the first and last word, the alpha and the omega, there is you and me—a holy nucleus of everything—two pieces merging into a third."
“Trained eyes recognize a shimmering quality to all of reality.” This sounds like how I feel/think/see, if it means beauty and specialness in things, especially people, around us 💜
Thank you for sharing! I like how you worded that (and, wow, that SAME line seems to have stood out a lot, as indicated by so many comments!).
Ahh! Love this !! :
"If you pay close enough attention to anything, you start to see everything. Trained eyes recognize a shimmering quality to all of reality."
Reminds me of Tom Waits:
"The way you do anything is the way you do everything."
and the goal of an artist, as paraphrased from Robert Henri, not to make great art but to be in a way of being that good art is inevitable.
Glad I found your writing, Jeff ... it's a kind of balm of encouragement for me today!!!
Love that Henri quote. Very smart. Thank you.
I'm learning that beauty is everywhere, It took long enough, I'm in my '60s now. I'm noticing more and enjoying life like I never did when I was younger.
This is a truly lovely piece. It's a left-brain view wanting to see, figure out, understand the experiential depth possible when we stop the language-oriented, defining brain and just go direct, via the right brain into full immersion! Stay in the experience of being a moment longer, then another moment longer, and so on, and infinite layers of the "divine" or the energy-and-consciousness reality are revealed. In a way so natural that all you can say is: "Oh, right! I already know this! It feels so familiar. How did I ever forget or veil myself from this love, this beauty, this belonging?" It's a challenge for me, when I go into these communion experiences, to stay there—because I always want to come back and write about it, try to share it! But I am getting better at merging the 2 worlds, feeling them existing simultaneously in each moment I isolate.
Thank you, Penney.
Jeff, I have now read this article 3 times, and I have to thank you for it. It has re-awakened something in me that I had temporarily misplaced under a growing pile of small but wearing challenges-- a sense of wonder and awe that we are privileged to participate in this thing called life. Non-stop stimulation and the persistent division and negativity that popular media seems to feed on can blunt both our senses and our hearts. It is easy to feel like a zombie, not really dead, but neither really alive. As a person of faith, I know not to lean only on what I feel, but your words definitely stirred some hot coals that had become covered with the ashes of past regrets, failures, and disappointments.
Some of your passages really made me smile: "If you pay close enough attention to anything, you start to see everything. Trained eyes recognize a shimmering quality to all of reality. " I think I hadn't allowed myself to stop and notice that "shimmering" of late, so this is a reminder that I need to stop and LOOK for it. Thanks for reminding me that if we all just look for them, we can join you in saying "...I watch angels descending as dust particles and am sure I must be glancing eternity."
Thank you, Jeff, for this keeper. This was not beautifully written, but energizing for those of us who have allowed reality to make us too drowsy to notice the beauty and glimpses of eternity all around us.
Thank you, Cecelia. That means a lot, and I am with you in forgetting to remember the importance of life and love and the beauty of everything.
I kind of feel like this is sort of a love letter....maybe you should have posted this tomorrow? ;)
It kind of is. But it not now, then when? ;)
I feel like “My Life as a Soundtrack.” A slice of a movie, the montage to a favorite tune. Poetry of life and we can all relate. Peaceful.
Beautiful!
Beautiful and powerful imagery
Okay thats good stuff!!
Aw. Thanks, man.
This is written like an angel would do if an angel could write -- it's gorgeous and insightful. I have had moments like that. I acknowledge it, though my heart wants to deny it. I want to ask you, though, because I was struck by your example of hair falling on a pink pillow next to you. Isn't it easier to believe that all this oneness is real when you have something like that there, palpably, every day to remind you?
Oh, yes. It most certainly is. The temporal is a reminder of the eternal, because those two are actually one and the same.
Seated in the heavenly realms.
“Days pass and the years vanish, and we walk sightless among miracles.” Beautiful piece, Jeff. I always look forward to reading your work.
That's a lovely quote, Carey. Where is it from?
It’s part of a Sabbath prayer usually attributed to Jewish Reform rabbi Chaim Stern. I’ve always loved those lines…a beautiful reminder to NOT remain sightless.
Beautiful.
Fabulous. All of it.
“… every attempt to divide the indivisible is like trying to cut up pieces of the wind.”
Thank you. That means a lot. There are a number of fun phrases here that came to mind while I was writing this piece. That one, in particular, just popped in when I was revising an earlier draft. It's always rewarding for me when others find bits in my writing that connect.
Thank you for that lovely nudge to watch for angels descending in those particles of dust that are forever passing before our eyes.
You're welcome.
Beautiful.
Thank you, Gail. :)
Love this: "And here, between the first and last word, the alpha and the omega, there is you and me—a holy nucleus of everything—two pieces merging into a third."
“Trained eyes recognize a shimmering quality to all of reality.” This sounds like how I feel/think/see, if it means beauty and specialness in things, especially people, around us 💜
Thank you for sharing! I like how you worded that (and, wow, that SAME line seems to have stood out a lot, as indicated by so many comments!).